One of many first issues All-Professional Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner mentioned along with his coaches after final season was his want to “journey” extra with the opposition’s No. 1 receivers. It seems like he’s going to get his want.
Coach Robert Saleh mentioned this week that the Jets can be “even handed” when deciding to have Gardner journey nevertheless it might occur extra this season.
“I’m all the time wanting ahead to the problem,” Gardner mentioned. “I want to name myself among the finest within the sport, if not the most effective. I’m all the time open to competing. I need to problem myself, problem different individuals, however finally I simply need to do no matter it takes for the crew to win. That’s what it’s all about, successful video games.”
Gardner has been a star since he arrived with the Jets as a first-round choose in 2022. He has been named first-team All-Professional in every of his first two seasons.
The Jets have deployed Gardner at occasions on a selected receiver, however extra usually they’ve him play one aspect and D.J. Reed play one other or transfer them round in particular conditions like third down or within the crimson zone.
“He did [travel] final yr, and we’ll be even handed like we usually are,” Saleh mentioned. “He’s a weapon we will use from the defensive standpoint, however to say it’ll be unique, I’m not going to say that, however he did final yr, to say he may do some bit extra, that’s a risk, however I believe it’s going to be extra game-to-game.”
Jets followers keep in mind Darrelle Revis in his prime as somebody who shut down the opposite crew’s prime possibility and freed up then-coach Rex Ryan to do different issues along with his protection.
It seems like Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich are cooking up new methods to make use of Gardner.
“When you’ve a man like him, you simply obtained to attempt to discover methods to be inventive with him, however it’s important to evolve within the league, I believe,” Saleh mentioned. “Clearly, yearly you’re going to strive new issues. Some issues stick, some issues don’t, however that is the time of yr to strive all that stuff.”
For Gardner, he’s making the transition from one of many youngest gamers on the crew to transferring towards being a veteran in his third yr.
He mentioned he has seen that he and Garrett Wilson, who was drafted in the identical yr, are actually seen otherwise.
“We grown up,” Gardner mentioned. “I’m happening 12 months 3. It simply feels form of completely different, all people simply me, and I’m serving to all people else out. It seems like yesterday I used to be the one asking D.J., asking all people for recommendation.”
At Tuesday’s OTA observe, rookie cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers requested Gardner for some tips about enjoying zone protection.
“I spotted I’m getting a little bit bit older, however I’m not outdated in any respect,” Gardner joked. “I’m on 12 months 3. Now, it’s to the purpose the place each time I’m not in, I’m simply watching. I’m watching and I can see they’re me a little bit bit, too. That’s only a nice feeling. I can simply be like, ‘I see you probably did this. You possibly can in all probability do it like this and also you’ll be capable to come out of your breaks quicker.’ Simply little issues like that.”
Gardner is a key piece within the Jets’ hopes of being a playoff crew and successful the Tremendous Bowl.
He has established himself as among the finest cornerbacks in soccer, and he’s assured the Jets can obtain their objectives this yr.
“[It’s] the identical as I felt final yr,” Gardner mentioned. “I really feel like we will win a championship, a Tremendous Bowl. We’ve obtained the blokes. We’ve obtained the coaches. We’ve obtained the whole lot we’d like. The coaching workers, the whole lot that it takes for us to have the ability to get to the place we need to get to.”
